Cultural Shifts in Hollywood?

There’s this cover story in Variety that makes me think—maybe, just maybe, a cultural shift is brewing in Hollywood. It’s refreshing, really.

When you look at the kinds of references it includes… I mean, they actually made me chuckle. No sarcasm intended. It’s surprisingly free from those self-righteous tangents that you often see.

Among the noteworthy developments, there’s Skydance Media, run by Larry and David Ellison, who just acquired Paramount, which owns CBS News. Rumor has it they’re also looking to take over Warner Bros., which handles CNN, the DC Universe, and HBO.

But that’s not the crux of the story.

What’s interesting here is that the Ellisons are reportedly friends of President Trump. They seem aligned with his agenda and are making strides to change the left-leaning culture at CBS and Paramount.

This feels reminiscent of what Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes did with Fox News about 30 years ago—bringing conservative middle American values to an industry perceived as out of touch with everyday people.

Maybe a better analogy would be Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter. Musk opened the platform to alternative viewpoints, forcing others like Facebook to reconsider their positions.

Can you imagine a similar transformation in the entertainment sector?

And if David Ellison at Paramount is genuinely committed to this shift and manages to pull Warner Bros. into his fold… wow.

Why am I starting to feel a bit hopeful? This Variety article has a respectful tone, which is, honestly, a bit unusual. Typically, when Variety discusses conservatives, it’s with disdain or a rather condescending tone.

But this feels different, suggesting they actually believe Ellison is on the verge of becoming a significant player in Hollywood. They might not want to alienate him.

There’s talk of “Ellison’s Rising Empire.” It’s noted that the studio’s content is increasingly aligning with MAGA messaging, marking him as a potential disruptor in the film industry.

In the report, there’s mention of layoffs at CBS affecting nearly 1,000 people, disproportionately impacting women in senior roles. One could argue this aligns with Trump-friendly decisions.

Paramount is said to be replacing its executives with those whose views may seem outdated by current Hollywood standards, signaling a notable cultural shift.

Though Paramount disputes claims about this transformation, Variety suggests a newfound comfort watching Fox News in their offices—a sentiment that could have previously resulted in backlash.

Interestingly enough, Larry Ellison maintains ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He appointed Bari Weiss, a pro-Israel journalist, as CBS News editor-in-chief. This move might even be in response to celebrity calls for a boycott of Israeli companies.

Back in September, Paramount was the first major studio to repudiates a letter from stars like Emma Stone and Javier Bardem, calling for a boycott of Israeli film entities amid accusations of “genocide and apartheid.” It’s reported that Paramount now has a list of people it won’t hire due to their perceived anti-Semitic or xenophobic views, but it’s unclear if boycott signatories are on that list.

If Ellison gains ownership of both Paramount and Warner Bros., he could hold those on this blacklist accountable. It’s a striking thought.

Then there’s the director of the upcoming Paramount film Call of Duty, Peter Berg, who recently expressed supportive views about Trump. This type of sentiment could lead to further blacklisting in other sectors.

It’s a stark admission from Variety that there’s a left-leaning political blacklist.

It’s unfortunate to see things unfolding this way. If you actually care about art, especially cinema, you wouldn’t want a divided Hollywood. Unfortunately, the left’s radical approach to filmmaking has largely overshadowed talent and ostracized voices like Berg’s—someone who could contribute to that broader conversation.

During Hollywood’s golden age, even with its various limitations, there was a conscious effort to appeal to a wide audience. The competition created some fantastic art, drawing from differing viewpoints.

Now, without that competitive push, Hollywood seems to have succumbed to complacent excess, especially regarding propaganda. Disney’s disregard for potential competition from figures like Ellison has led to a rather dismissive attitude toward their fanbase.

Perhaps the question now lies with Disney, CNN, and others—how will they respond?